Inspired in 1953 by composer Douglas Moore's interest in the Tabors' story and funded by the Central City Opera House Association, the opera came together through a unique combination of hard work and serendipity. Smith relates how key people - including investors and historians in addition to creative talent - turned Moore's idea into a reality and brought the story of the Tabors to millions of opera fans worldwide. In addition, Smith compares the opera's libretto with historical reality, and the book even includes a chapter on the production written by John Moriarty, who conducted the opera in 1981, 1988, and 1996.

The story of Baby Doe Tabor has seduced America for more than a century. Long before her body was found frozen in a Leadville shack near the Matchless Mine, Elizabeth McCourt “Baby Doe” Tabor was the stuff of legend. The stunning divorcée married Colorado’s wealthiest mining magnate and became the “Silver Queen of the West.” Blessed with two daughters, Horace and Baby Doe mesmerized the world with their wealth and extravagance. But Baby Doe’s life was also a morality play. Almost overnight, the Tabors’ wealth disappeared when depression struck in 1893. Horace died six years later. According to the legend, one daughter left home never to return; the other died horribly. For thirty-five years, Baby Doe, who was considered mad, lived in solitude high in the Colorado Rockies. Baby Doe Tabor left a record of her madness in a set of writings she called her “Dreams and Visions.” These were discovered after her death but never studied in detail—until now. Author Judy Nolte Temple retells Lizzie’s story with greater accuracy than any previous biographer and reveals a story more heartbreaking than the legend, giving voice to the woman behind the myth.

(Vocal Collection). Contents: Handel: V'adoro pupille (Giulio Cesare) Mozart: Porgi, amor (Le Nozze di Figaro) * Dove sono (Le Nozze Figaro) * Deh vieni, non tardar (Le Nozze di Figaro) * Bester Jungling (Der Schauspieldirektor) * Batti, batti, bel Masetto (Don Giovanni) * Vedrai carino (Don Giovanni) * Ach, ich fuhl's (Die Zauberflote) Beethoven: O war' ich schon mit dir vereint (Fidelio) C.M. von Weber: Kommt ein schlanker Bursch gegangen (Der Freischutz) Verdi: Caro nome (Rigoletto) * Saper vorreste (Un Ballo in Maschera) * Sul fil d'un soffio etesio (Falstaff) Gounod: The Jewel Song (Faust) * Ah! Je veux vivre (Romeo et Juliette) Bizet: Je dis que rien ne m 'epouvante (Carmen) Offenbach: Elle a fui, la tourterelle! (Les Contes d'Hoffmann) Massenet: Adieu, notre petite table (Manon) Leoncavallo: Ballatella (I Pagliacci) Puccini: Mi chiamano Mimi (La Boheme) * Donde lieta (La Boheme) * Quando men vo (La Boheme) * Un bel di (Madama Butterfly) * O mio babbino caro (Gianni Schicchi) * Signore, ascolta (Turandot) * Tu che di gel sei cinta (Turandot) Menotti: The Black Swan (The Medium) * Monica's Waltz (The Medium) Moore: Willow Song (The Ballad of Baby Doe) * The Silver Aria (The Ballad of Baby Doe) Mechem: Fair Robin, I love (Tartuffe).